A drunken driver was sentenced Tuesday to look at dead bodies of crash victims.

Jonathan Tarase, 27, of Kirtland is the latest first-time offender to get an unusual sentence from Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael A. Cicconetti.

Tarase was arrested by the Ohio Highway Patrol shortly before midnight Oct. 13 on suspicion of drunk driving.

"He went through a stop sign, caused a crash and hit another vehicle," Cicconetti said. "It was amazing nobody was seriously injured or killed."

One of the victims, a 47-year-old Concord Township woman, was in court and asked the judge to do something so the defendant never drives drunk again.

"I just don't want this to happen to anyone else," she said.

On Tuesday, Tarase pleaded no contest to OVI and was found guilty. He was sentenced to five days in jail to begin on April 19. Or, he can complete three days of alcohol treatment in lieu of jail.

In addition, the judge required him to be on call to look at bodies of car fatality victims at a hospital emergency room or the Lake County Coroner's Office. He must attend at least two such viewings.

Tarase expressed genuine remorse for what he did, the judge said.

"It was a very idiotic, moronic thing to do," Tarase told the judge. "I am sorry."

The judge replied, "I hope this literally scared the hell out of you."

Tarase said, "Oh, it did."

If Tarase fails to show up for the viewings, he has 60 additional days in jail hanging over his head.

He was also sentenced to six months probation, a $600 fine and no driving privileges for 15 days.

Tarase had been headed eastbound on Girdled Road near Orchard Road in Concord Township, according to the OHP.

The victim and her 46-year-old husband, who was also in the car, are being represented by attorney Paul Grieco.

Cicconetti is known for his creative sentences, such as ordering a man who shouted obscenities at a police officer and called him a pig to stand at a busy street corner with a real swine and a sign stating, "This is not a police officer."

Cicconetti said he hopes his creative sentences help the public.

"The publicity isn't for me," he said. "It's to reach out to the community as a whole. Maybe this will prevent at least one person from drunk driving."